Villa Life - Our Blog

Cabrita Cliff Haus "Seventh Wonder"

St. Thomas villa Cabrita Cliff Haus. November 2012

(Courtesy of the villa owners)

The view from this villa is amazing and the constant parade of sailboats as they silently drift by makes it very difficult to leave the property once you arrive.  The villa is absolutely beautiful and completely updated with very tasteful artwork.  The appliances are new and the kitchen is well stocked with everything you need. 

The city of Red Hook is only a 10 minute drive away...

The villa is very clean and very well maintained. The passenger and car ferry (to St. John) are located right in Red Hook and very easy to use...

This place is so perfect that we almost don't want to tell you about it out of fear the villa will be booked on our planned return. This will be one of the locations where we return time and time again...

The return of Mandavilla!

Our team is thrilled to see the return of the lovely Mandavilla, one of three beauties which sit on St. John's Pocket Money Hill. Our repeat St. John guests are likely familiar with this villa, which was built before sister villas Ginger Thomas and Ylang-Ylang.

The upstairs remains occupied by the island manager, but the lower level (Mandavilla) has been refurbished to create a spacious, 1-bedroom, 2 bath accommodation. Mandavilla has its own private pool, hot tub and sun deck located below the villa via a staircase through lovely gardens; this area may be used ONLY by Mandavilla guests, no one else.

Sade Villa on Tortola slated for glamorous remake!

 

Sade photo by Don Hebert

Longtime favorite Tortola villa Sade will experience a $30,000 upgrade for the upcoming season! We'll have to share the pictures as soon as it's done, but we are all excited to see the upcoming rebirth of this elegant 5-bedroom property, which is located in the exclusive Belmont area of Tortola's West End.

 

On the way are new linens, rugs, throw pillows, and lamps for all bedrooms.  The upstairs main living area will be re-done from the furnishings to the window dressings. The new color palette and décor are from New York-based Southgate Lifestyle Design (SLD), which specializes in residential interior decorating and custom furniture packages for vacation or rental properties in South Florida and the Caribbean.

As we await the new unveiling, whet your appetite with these samples from SLD... bon appétit!

 

 

 

Bella Vida - more beautiful by the day!

St. Thomas villa Bella Vida (formerly Maison Veldkamp) has been a work in progress since new owners took over late last year. Since then, new window treatments, re-upholstery, vibrant wall colors and original paintings have combined to create a light tropical feel for this 3-BR villa overlooking the historic Charlotte Amalie Harbor.

Renowned interior designer Twila Wilson lends her expert touch to the ongoing transformation of this longtime favorite vacation rental property with an eye to the personalities of the owners. One of the owners, who is an artist who favors the great impressionists, has added his own works to the mix, creating a delightful tableau of colors that seem to whisper to the mind's eye of joyful times.

On our last visit to the property, we were amazed at how the blues in the archways and the subtler hues of the paintings, embraced the overall décor.  The addition of new lounge chairs at poolside make Bella Vida a truly inviting villa - in Spanish, it is "Beautiful Life"!

See the new photos of Bella Vida on our web site along with live availability and virtual tours.  Or better yet, come and be charmed by this island delight!

Click any image below to see a larger version...

 

Chez Shell, St. John + The Baths, Virgin Gorda: Awesome!

St. John villa Chez Shell.  July 2012

McLaughlin Anderson Luxury Villas Concierge and Guest Services Director Angela St. Hilaire received the following report and kudos from a very happy St. John guest:

Chez Shell was AWESOME!   The managers were kind and  informative about the villa;  absent until called upon. Quick to respond. The villa was impeccably clean!  Denise does an incredible job there!!
 
My massage by Lina who was filling in for Arlene, ROCKED; I am happy to report (I think they share office space).  I am a tough critic in this area so...take it for what it is worth.

Your advice on the boating was excellent.  We did a dinghy one day and then used your tip and got a GREAT captain, Jason (from another company) and took that to the Baths and other spots.  While the captain was refueling, I walked my niece and nephew around town. Got a call from my husband to come watch the car as a police officer warned him he had 5 mins.  My husband tipped (the captain) and said a quick goodbye. The other three of us never saw him again.

So the day we departed my husband stopped by to tell the Steve (the owner of the boat company), how great Jason was on our trip to the Baths.  Really a NICE young man who clearly was competent and knowledgeable.   Please feel free to send along our further compliments and thanks to him!

We never go wrong using McLaughlin Anderson!  It was fun showing a niece and nephew where it is we go when not at the New Jersey shore with them every summer.  They were awed by the fish, turtles, and The Baths.

Sincere thanks to you for all your help and correspondence. Hope we will be back before too long.

Take care!